Expression-controlling means for electrically-operated musical instruments.



F. KELLY EXPRESSION CONTROLLING MEANS FOR ELECTBICALLY OPERATED MUSICAL'INSTRUM ENTS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27. I914.

Patented 0ct-15, 1912;

WITNESSES- INVENTOR. "J 17%; BY 9 4 ATTORNEY.

- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. KELLY, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

OH-CONT BOLLING MEANS FOR ELECTBICALLY-OPEBATED MUSICAL INSTRU- mnn'rs.

1 281,392 Specification 01' Letters Patent. Patented Oct, 15, 1918.

Application filed November 2 7, 1914. Seriallio. 874,117.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN F. KELLY a citizen of the United States of America, re-

- invented a certain new and useful Improvesiding in the city of Pittsfield, county of.

Berkshire, and State of Massachusetts, have object is to provide in a device of the class actuatiu described means to 'vary the current impressed upon the note-operating magnets whereby accenting of certain notes may be accomplished. A further object is to provide in such a device an electro-magnetic switching device, operable by perforations in the note sheet, which alternately changes the difference of potential available for key magnets from a high to a low value. ther objects will appear in the detailed description to follow.

In general m device comprises two magnets, a movab e armature adapted alternately to be attracted by said ma ets and switching devices operable by t e movement of said armature.- The magnets are alternately energized when a contact finger falls into a perforation in the note sheet and the armature is attracted by an instan taneous application of current and is arranged thereafter to remain in the position to which it was attracted. When in such a position a certain difference of potential 1s available for the key operating magnets which operate .in a well-known manner.

. When thenext perforation in the note sheet Thus, in the common devices of this character, a group of several successive chords to be accented require a perforation for each chord. With my improved structure a single perforation only would be needed to accent all the chords in the group.

In the accompanying drawings wherein -I show for the purposes of illustration one preferred embodiment of my invention The figure shows a diagrammatic view of mfy device as applied to a well-known form 0 electrically o erated piano.

Referring to t e drawings in detail: The

usual contact bar is indicated at 27 and may, for the purposes of illustration be considered as a metallic conducting member. Passing over the bar 27 and in contact therewith is'a note sheet 26 which will hereafter be considered as composed of non-conducting material. Arranged above the note sheet in the usual manner are a plurality of contact fingers, one for each note of the pianoforte, two of which only are shown at 29 and 30. The lower ends of these fingers 29 and 30 bear upon the upper surface of the note sheet 26 and, when any of-the perforations 32 or 33 pass underthe contact fingers 29 and 30, an electrical connection is made between the contact bar 27 and the fingers 29 and 30. Each of the fingers 29 and 30 controls the playing of a note on the pianoforte and the length of the perforations 32 and 33 controls the interval through which these notes are sounded.

A portion of a pianoforte is represented as a whole by the numeral 47; Arranged below the pianoforte 47 are the key-operatingma nets, one for each note of the pianoforte. wo of these magnets only are shown at 3'1 and 38, respectively. The magnets 37 and 38 are of the bipolar type having armatures 39 and 40 pivoted centrally at 41 and 42, respectively.

45 and 46 respectively of the pianoforte 47. One terminal of each of the magnets 37 and 38 are connected together and to a wire 20 at 48. The other terminals of the magnets -37 and 38 is connected by wires 35 and 36 to the contact fingers 29 and 30 respectively. The structure so 'fardescribed is substantiall old and well-known. y improved accenting device w1ll now be described. -1 and 2 represent two suitable electro-magnets. 'Pivoted centrally at 4,

above the magnets 1 and 2.iS. an armature 3.

The armatures 39 and 40' are connected by links 43 and 44 to the keys Mounted on aside face of the latter and 1 near the extremities thereof are metallic plates 5 and 6 which are electrically 1nsulated from the armature 3 by insulation pieces 5' and 6, respectively. Arranged above the armature 3 and in the path of the plate 5 are a pair of spring contacts 7 and 8. Similarly arranged in the path of the plate 6 are another pair of spring contacts 9 and 10. These contacts 7, 8, 9, and 10 may be held in fixed position in any suitable and well-known manner. Suitably mounted on one side of the magnet 1 is a vertically disposed spring contact 12 which when the armature 3 is attracted by the magnet 1 is adapted to be engaged by the end surface of the armature 3. Similarly arranged on one side of the magnet 2 is a similar spring contact 13 which, when the armature 3 is attracted by the magnet 2, is engaged by the other end'surface of the armature 3.

To control the mechanism just described a contact finger 25 is arranged above the note sheet 26 in a manner similar to the ar rangement of the fingers 29 and 30 heretofore described. Formed in the notesheet 26 and immediately below the finger 25 are a plurality of accenting perforations 31. When the finger 25 drops into one of these perforations 31 an electrical connection is established between the contact finger 25 and the contact bar 27.

The lattermember is connected by a wire 28 to one terminal of a battery or other suitable source of electrical energy 14. The other terminal of the battery is connected by a wire 16 to the spring contact 8. At a. suitable point 15 in the battery a connection is made by the wire 17 to the spring contact 9. Moreover, a wire 21 connected to the wire 17 connects to a brush 11 which bears upon the pivot 4 of the armature 3. The spring contacts 7 and 10 are connected by wires 18 and 19 respectively to the wire 20 heretofore described. The contacts 12 and- 13 are connected by wires 22 and 23 to the magnets 2 and 1 respectively. The other terminals of each of the magnets 1 and 2 are connected together and to a wire 24 which leads to the contact finger 25 already described.

The operation of my accenting device will now be described. In the drawing the accenting contact finger 25 is shown dropped into the perforation 31 and the magnet 1 has ust been energized to attract the -armature 3 to the position shown. The spring finger 12 is in contact with the armature 3 and the contacts 9 and 10 are electrically connected together by the metallic plate 6. With the parts in the position shown in the drawings the low or normal difference of potential of the battery 14 is available for the key actuating magnets 37 and 38. The finm- 30 shown in contact with the con- -9, through the p tact bar 27 through the perforations 32' and a circuit is thus made through the ma net 38 for the actuation of the key 45. 1118 circuit is as follows: from the point 15 of the battery 14, b the wire 17, to the finger late 6 to the finger 10, and therefrom by wires 19 and 20 to the magnet 38, thence passing by wire 36 to the finger 30 and the contact bar 27, returning by wire 28 to the other terminal of the battery 14.

If the note sheet 26 is assumed to be traveling in the direction of the arrow 34 it will be seen that the finger 25 is about to be withdrawn from contact with the contact bar 27 by the unperforated portion of the note sheet '26 passing therebetween. As a matter of fact the perforations 31 are so small that the finger 25 has substantially instantaneous contact only with the contact bar 27 through these perforations. Thus, by the time the magnet 1 has attracted the armature 3 as shown in the drawing the contact between the finger 25 and contact bar 27 has been broken.

When the armature 3 is in the position shown the ma net 2 will be electrically energized when t 1e next succeeding one of the accent perforations 31 viz., 31 passes in under the finger 25. This alternate changing of connections to the magnets 1 and 2 is accom plished by the fingers l2 and 13 which alternately contact with the end of the armature 3. Thus, as shown the magnet 2 operates the armature 3 when the finger 25 next contacts with the contact bar 27. Let it be assumed that the sheet 26 has moved in the direction of the arrow 34 until the perforation 31 has passed in under the finger 25. With such a condition a circuit through the magnet 2 is established as follows: from the point 15 of the battery 14 by wires 17 and 21 to the brush 11, pivot 4, and arma ture 3, thence through the contact 12 and wire 22 to the magnet 2 and from the latter by a wire 24 to the finger 25 and through the perforation 31 to the contact bar 27 returning by the wire 28 to the other terminal of the battery 14. Thusthe right hand end of the armature will be attracted by the magnet 2 which action will open the connection between the contacts 9 and 10 by the withdrawal of the plate 6; the contacts 7 and 8 will now be closed which will make the full potential of the battery 14 available for the key actuating magnets 37 and 38. The current then flows from the extreme right hand terminal of the battery 14 by wire 16 to contact 8 and through the plate 5 and finger 7 to the wire 18 and thence by wire 20 to the key-operating magnets as heretofore described.

Coincidentally with the switching of the full difference of potential of the battery between the finger 12 and armature 3 is 60 nection from the e broken and, a connection is at the same time made between the finger 13 and the armature 3. The magnet 1 will be enerized when the finger 25 drops into the per- 5 oration'31 The current will then pass from the point 15 of the battery 14 by wires 17 and 21 to the brush 11 through the pivot 4 and the armature 3 to the finger 13, and thence by the wire 23 to the magnet 1, re

turning as heretofore described.

Thus, the difference of potential available. for the magnets 37 .and 38 is' :alternately changed from a high to a lower value as the perforations 31, 31', 31. etc., pass successively beneath the finger 25. Furthermore, during the interval between perforations all notes operated through the fingers 29 and H 30 will be actuated with the same current strength. Thereafter, during the next interval between the perforations 31, all the notes willbe actuated with a different current strength. Thus accenting a group of notes may be accomplished with a relatively small number of, perforations in the note sheet. I It willbe obvious to those skilled inthe art that my improved apparatus may effect the expression with whlch the notes are played in other ways than that described. It is recognized that various other modifications may be made in the structure described without departing from the scope of my invention which is defined in the appended claims.

p It is to be understood that the terms, keyment, contact fingers adapted to enter said openings, acontact finger adapted to engage said ,row of accent rforations, an electromagnetic switch to c ange the connections to the sound producing devices, a source of electrical energy, connections therefrom at different potential points to the electromagnetic switch for controlling the actuation of said devices which control the actuation of the sound roducing devices, a confectro-magnetic switch 'to the accent contact finger, connections from the'contact fingers to the electro-magnetic devices which actuate the sound producing devices,,a connection from the contact bar to. the source of electrical energy, and a con- 'vices as the accent perforations in the notenection from the electro-ma etic devices which actuate the sound pr ucing devices .to said connections from different potential strength of current applied to the e ectromagnetic devices which actuate the sound producing devices of theinstrument, the successive accent perforation of the note sheet. serving to reverse the action of the switch device.

2. In an electrically operated musical in- 0 strument and in combination, a contact bar, a perforated note-sheet for traversing the same, a source of electrical energy, sound producing devices, connections from different potentialpoints of the source of elec- 5 trical energy to the sound producing devices, means to control the operation of said de vices from the note sheet, an electro-magnetic switch device included in the connections from the source of electrical energy to the sound producing devices to supply alternately the fulland a partial voltage of said source to said sound producing devices, a single contact finger 1n the connections from the contact bar to the switch device, a series of perforations consisting of a single row of openings formed in the notesheet to be engaged by said contact finger,

said finger and single row of openings serving in succession to control the operation of said switch device to reverse its position in relation to its last position to change the potential of the current from the source of electrical energy to the sound producing desheet pass in succession under the accent contact finger, and electrical connections between difl'erent potential oints' of the source of electrical energy and t e electro-magnetic switch device.

3. In an electricall -operated musical instrument,'and in com ination, a contact bar, a perforated note sheet-ado. ted to traverse the same, and havin a sing e row of accent perforations, soun -producing devices, a source of electrical energy, connections therefrom to the sound produci devices to actuate the'same, means control ed by said note-sheet to control the actuation of said sound-producing devices, and means controlled by the accent perforations to vary the difference of potential available from said source for the actuation of the soundproducing devices, said means comprising electro-ma nets,.a pivotally mounted armature there or adapted to be alternately attracted by said magnets, connections from the source of electncal ener to the magnets, said connections bein a apted to su ply the full or a partia voltage of said source to said sound producing devices and means controlledby said note sheet to control the actuation of said magnets.

4. In an electrically operated musical instrument and in combination, a contact bar, a perforated note sheet adapted to traverse the same, the sheet having a single row of accent perforations, electrically operated sound producing devices, a source of electrical energy, connections therefromto the sound producing devices and including thecontact bar, and means controlled by the accent perforations of said note-sheet to con trol the operation of said sound producing devices, saidmeans com rising electro-magnets, an armature there or adapted to be alternately attracted by said magnets, electric connections from the source of energy to the electro-magnets and the means controlled by the accent perforations and arranged to be opened and closed by the movements of said armature, said connections being ar-. ranged to supply the full or a partial voltage of said source to said sound producing devices.

An electrically operated musical instrument comprising in combination, a source of electrical energy, electrical devices for operating the sound producing devices, connections from different potential points of the source of electrical energy to said electrical devices, a contact bar, a perforated note-sheet engaging the contact bar and having a single row of accent perforations, contact fingers arranged to enter the perforations and engage the contact bar, an electro-magnetic switch operating device comprising a plurality of electro-magnets which are included in said connections from the source of energy to the electrical devices which operate the sound producing devices, an armature alternately operated by said magnets for alternately closing said connections by reversing the position of the switch as the accent finger passes in succession from one perforation to the next following one.

6. An electrically operated musical instrument, comprising, in combination, electrically operated sound producing devices, a contact bar, a perforated note-sheet engaging the same, contact fingers for entering the note-perforations and engaging the contact bar, an electro-magnetic switch device for controlling the potential difference vof the electric current supplied to the said sound producing devices, a source of electrical energy, connections therefrom to the said sound-producing devices, and including said switch device, the note-sheet having a singlerowof accent perforations formed therein, an accent contact finger connected to the source of electrical energy for entering the perforations and engaging the contact bar,

- said connections being so arranged that the position of the switch device is automatically reversed in relation to its next preced ing sition and the connections to the soun -producing devices are changed to electric connection from the bar to the other terminal of the source of energy, fingers engaging the perforations to close the circults to the bar and to the sound producing devices, the note sheet having a single row of accent perforations formed therein, an accent contact finger connected to the source of electric energy for entering the accent perforations and engaging said bar, whereby as the accent perforations in said notesheet pass in succession over said bar, said switch will automatically cause the switch connections to alternate and the difference of potential supplied .to the sound producing devices will be alternately varied, by reversing the action of the preceding accent perforation with reference to the pressure applied to the sound producing devices as the successive accent perforations pass the accent finger.

8. An electrically operated musical instrument comprising, in combination with a suitable source of electrical energy, a tracker bar, a perforated note sheet passin over the tracker bar, said sheet being formed with accent perforations in addition to the note perforations, electrically operated sound producing devices, connections from different potential points of the source of electric ener to said sound producing devices, an e ectro magnetically operated switch in said connectlons for alternately changing the potential difference of the curd rent supplied tosaid sound producing devices when its armature is operated, an accent contact-finger engaging the contact bar through the accent perforations in the note sheet, connections from the accent finger to the connections of said switch for effecting source of electric energy, connections from ference of otential' supplied to the sound' 5 difl'erent potential points of the source of producing evices and operable by the row ener to said devices for supplyin current of accent perforations in the note-sheet so to said devices, a tracker-bar, inc uded in. that as each successive accent perforation 6 the connections, a perforated note sheet passes the accent fingerthe action of the passin over the tracker-bar and having a switching device is reversed with relation 2a 7 row 0' accent perforations, an accent finger to its preceding position and with reference for engaging the accent perforations and to the potential 01': the current supplied tc bar, contact fingers engaging the note sheet the electrically operated sound producing;

10 and included in said connections for closing devices.

the circuit to said sound producing devices, v JOHN F an electromagnetic switching device and l/Vltnessesz the-contact bar being included in said con- HELEN T. KELLY,

nections for raising and lowering the dif- DENNIS J. HAYLON. 

